Ok I have header soak. So i got some header wrap, then read all the bad press about header wrap. So was think of just wraping the starter with it instead. good idea bad idea are usless?

skeeter

302 Z28

04-27-2010 09:10 PM

Give us some more information about your car, you may not have the heat soak problem you think you have.

Vince

nskeeter99

04-27-2010 09:47 PM

OK i have an 81 Datsun 4x4, that i put a sbc in. anyway do to fitmit issues so i used block hugger headers. Any who after the engine runs a few minutes the starter drags like the batter is dead or low. I got the new style gm starter. I ran new wires and grands every were. to no avail. now it only has to set a few minuets and its happy again. I put an IR thermometer on it. the solenoid is hitting 250.

skeeter

DoubleVision

04-27-2010 11:19 PM

Try this first. Run the ground from the battery to the block, and another ground from block to the trucks frame. Another small ground from firewall to engine. The headers I used in my 86 olds cutlass was for a f body car, so the header tube rode right on the starter itself. I had the same problem until I improved the grounds. After that I never had another hot start problem. The benefit was the electrical system worked alot better afterwards. It killed 8 starters before I wisely improved the grounds.

ericnova72

04-28-2010 01:15 AM

There are also reflective foil-coated starter blankets made of a similar material as the header wrap but with a layer of foil on rthe outside to reflect the heat away.

Moroso also sells a nice double-walled with internal heat material metal shield which bolts to the starter that works well also.

i have done the grounds. my battery has both post so i ran one to the block the other one to the frame. i then ran one from the fram to block and the a couple to the body. I know they make wraps for the starter. I was just thinking since already have the wrap wont have to spend 30 more bucks to get the starter wrap.

302 Z28

04-28-2010 09:15 AM

I have block hugger headers on my car, and also have a SBC. In addition I have the MAD modification to a Ford starter solenoid with battery in the trunk. I have no hot start issues at all, quite the contrary. People have asked me what starter I have because it cranks over so fast. Do not overlook the obvious trying to solve your starter problems. Masking it with shields and blankets is no answer.

There are a myriad of problems that can cause this, the least of which is heat soak IMHO.

Cables undersized.

Grounds undersized

Grounds not making good contact

Battery cables not making good contact

Bad starter

Battery voltage not high enough

Vince

bubbahotep

04-28-2010 12:06 PM

Did you try just pulling off power to the ignition coil and seeing if it turns easier? If it turns easy with no spark, when hot, it's not heat related. If the starter struggles with no spark then I think it's more heat related.

nskeeter99

04-28-2010 05:52 PM

it will drag and sometimes even kick back like my timing is over advanced, but after it cools its fine. it does not have to set for a long time either. like 5 minuets. some times after it draggs it will trun quicker for a second are two

nskeeter99

04-28-2010 07:31 PM

after a small run today the starter hit 250 and the solenoid hit 300.

nskeeter99

05-23-2010 05:33 PM

OK new up dates need help. my starter finally just gave out, so i put a new solenoid on it and great. your first start the motor screams over. i can let it idle till it gets warmed up kill it and try to restart it. it just kinda drags. I did get a starter blanket and wrap it. if i take the coil wire it will spin a little faster. anyway after i killed it and it would not restart. I walked to my shop 10 feet away and put air in my step dads garden trailer tire. walked back to the truck an started right away. pleas help. if you think this is tune how would i fix it. it screams over the first time you start it and after the few minutes it takes to cool.

bubbahotep

05-24-2010 07:24 AM

Skeeter: you never answered my suggestion above. I dont think its the starter

The car starts fine cold because you have no gas in the cylinders yet. If your timing is too advanced or the carb too rich it wont matter on a cold start. Once the engine is warm, on a restart, you can get the problems you have

After its hot, disable the spark and see if the engine cranks. My bet is that the starter spins fine even at 200 degrees

cobalt327

05-24-2010 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nskeeter99

OK new up dates need help. my starter finally just gave out, so i put a new solenoid on it and great. your first start the motor screams over. i can let it idle till it gets warmed up kill it and try to restart it. it just kinda drags. I did get a starter blanket and wrap it. if i take the coil wire it will spin a little faster. anyway after i killed it and it would not restart. I walked to my shop 10 feet away and put air in my step dads garden trailer tire. walked back to the truck an started right away. pleas help. if you think this is tune how would i fix it. it screams over the first time you start it and after the few minutes it takes to cool.

It sounds as if the ignition is just a bit over advanced, to me.

Take a few degrees of timing out of it and see if this makes a difference. At least then you can confirm or eliminate timing as the problem.

oldbogie

05-24-2010 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nskeeter99

Ok I have header soak. So i got some header wrap, then read all the bad press about header wrap. So was think of just wraping the starter with it instead. good idea bad idea are usless?

skeeter

Yeah this is typical of a cooking starter.

I'd go a couple ways here.

First is to use the small body permanent magnet starter of the newer (1990's) Chevy/GMC V8s. These are much lesser in diameter and will provide some much needed air space between it and the exhaust.

Second is a heat shield rather than insulation. The problem with insulation is it will keep heat in as well as out, so the starter motor can get quite hot from soaking back from the block as well as from the exhaust. I, also, think you'll find a plumbers flame shield to be useful. These are a piece of Kevlar used as flame shield by plumbers when soldering pipe around wood structures, kind of pricey for what they are but are quite effective. One of these attached to the heat shield or draped between it and the header will do a lot to stop the heat from transferring, where the shield alone just reflects heat, though this is pretty effective by itself. They are available at home improvement centers.

Don't forget to bracket the back of the starter to the block. This offers a lot of stability for the starter and takes a lot of twisting motion off the big mounting bolts.

Bogie

nskeeter99

05-24-2010 09:06 PM

OK here my up date. I do have one of the mini starters from the new trucks. i have one of these and the old style coffee can ones. I have a high tq one and a stand one form a 90 pick up. they have all been on the truck and do the same. I took it for a 15 minuet drive today. when I got home i killed and try ed to restart witht he drag. since i have my rad in the back with elc fans i went on a head and put the charger on the batter at 50 just to make sure it wasn't the batter low. same. I then pussed the dizzy back a couple of deg. same. I have an edelbrock qjet carb, and my step dad has my adjustment tool so I cant try to lean out some. I have duel terminal batter. so i have two grounds both running to the body and the engine. I have a ford solenoid but ant put it in yet. now if i don't tap the peddle a couple of times it will not start for a lot of rotation's. the starter wings right over no issues. now as soon as you tap the peddle it fires right up. i did get me a heat shield for the solenoid from the jy this weekend, which made no difference. but was think of running some of my unused header wrap off the back of the shield, since some one earlier said the wraps on the starter ant worth much. figured i would let it just hand over the back. I'm gona try and get my adjustment tool and lean it out some time this week just cant think of much else big headache.